Pacifica Resource Center

We've been helping stabilize Pacifica residents since 1974.

Pacifica Resource Center has worked for 40 years to assure the basic needs of every Pacifican are met so that every member of our community has food, shelter, and the opportunity to thrive.

Combatting Homelessness in Pacifica

Last year, we prevented homelessness or sheltered over 200 Pacifica families through one-time housing assistance, motel vouchers, and shelter referral funded by state and local funds.

Zandra was evicted from her apartment after she and the father of her 3 children ended their relationship. At the same time, Zandra became the legal guardian of her sister’s 2 children. Homeless with 5 children, PRC advocated to get her into shelter. While there, she saved nearly $10,000, but could not find housing. She was asked to leave the shelter, becoming homeless again. She used her savings for motel stays and searched for housing she could afford, getting food and other support from the PRC while we advocated for her to reenter shelter. During this time, we also enrolled her in the Housing Readiness Program, a 3-year housing assistance voucher, increasing her ability to find housing she could afford. This November, our advocacy finally paid off and she was able to return to shelter. Through her own perseverance and with support from the PRC, Zandra and her children are temporarily housed and able to save and focus on finding permanent housing. 

Empowering Families through Economic Security Services

We provided over 300 economic security services, including free tax preparation, financial coaching, and savings programs – all of which are long term solutions to help Pacificans become economically stable with resources to avoid and minimize future crises.

Wanda is a senior, living on a fixed income. She came to the PRC extremely worried about her income and expenses given the high cost of living in San Mateo County. Immediately, we connected her to food and other income supports, including utility assistance. Then, she enrolled in our Emergency Savings Program. Over the course of 6 months, Wanda saved $320 with support from the PRC. She developed a savings plan and met with us monthly for financial coaching sessions. Now, she feels financially empowered to handle any unexpected, financial crisis with her savings and money management skills.

For over 40 years, 1000s of volunteers support the PRC achieve our mission to help stabilize low-income Pacifica individuals and families by providing a safety net of food, housing assistance, and other critical services, including coaching, advocacy, information, and referral.